LONDON, Ontario, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada has won a $46.3 million contract to upgrade military chassis with more advanced weapons.
General Dynamics said in a statement Friday that the Canadian Department of National Defense had approved the contract for GDLS-C to upgrade 33 LAV III Infantry Section Carriers. General Dynamics Land Systems, the Canadian company’s parent corporation, is a business unit of General Dynamics.
"Under this contract, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada will modify 33 existing LAV III chassis to an infantry section carrier configuration and integrate a Remote Weapon Station on to the converted chassis. The LAV III chassis were originally manufactured under a previous contract for LAV III TOW Under Armour (TUA) vehicles. Rheinmetall Canada of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, will supply the Remote Weapon Station, which will feature a universal gun cradle capable of mounting 5.56, 7.62 and 12.7 mm armaments and a cooled thermal sight system," the statement said.
“As Canada’s leading armored vehicle manufacturer, our workforce is committed and proud to support the Canadian Forces. The modification of these LAV III vehicles will provide the army with additional capability as they conduct their challenging overseas missions,” said Sridhar Sridharan, senior vice president of General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada.
GD said the upgraded LAV III Infantry Section Carriers would be handed over to the Canadian armed forces June 2008 to March 2009.
GDLS-C describes itself as "a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies."
The contract is part of a massive upgrade of Canadian military capabilities that has been pushed through by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
